LORD S DAY November 25, 2018 COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH A Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America Dr. Ron Gonzales, Minister Office: 5 W Alder St, Ste 237 Walla Walla, WA 99362 (509) 522-1020 Email: office@covenantwallawalla.org
Upon entering the sanctuary, please be sensitive to the congregation s preparation for worship, and please make sure all electronic devises are turned off or set to silent mode. -DRAWING NEAR TO GOD- Welcome and Silent Prayer Great are you, O Lord, and highly to be praised; great is your power and your wisdom immeasurable. We desire to praise you, human beings carrying the witness of our sin and the knowledge that you resist the proud. Stir us, we pray, to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you. Amen. Adapted from Augustine s Confessions *Call to Worship Psalm 145.1-3, 10 *Prayer of Adoration *Song of Praise to God Hymn No. 115 ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING -HAVING OUR HEARTS CLEANSED- Confession of Sin O Lord God, the heavens declare your glory, the earth your riches. We thank you for the treasures given us in Jesus; for the unclouded revelation of him in your Word, where we behold his character, grace and glory, as well as his sufferings, death and resurrection. We come to you in his all-prevailing name, with nothing of our own to plead: no works, no worthiness, no promises. We are often straying, often knowingly opposing your authority, often abusing your goodness. Impress us deeply with a sense of your presence; that you are about our paths, our ways, our lying down, and our end. Subdue in us the love of sin, and let us know the need of renewal as well as forgiveness; that we may wholeheartedly serve and enjoy you forever. This we ask in Christ s name. Amen. Silently Add Your Own Confession of Sin
Assurance of Pardon Micah 7.18-19 *Song of Faith in Christ Hymn No. 156 O LORD, HOW SHALL I MEET YOU *Confession of Faith Does the Lord s Supper add anything to Christ s atoning work? No, Christ died once for all. The Lord s Supper is a covenant meal celebrating Christ s atoning work; as it is also a means of strengthening our faith as we look to him, and a foretaste of the future feast. But those who take part with unrepentant hearts eat and drink judgment on themselves. 1 The New City Catechism, No. 47 Congregational Petitions and the Lord s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. -ATTENDING TO THE WORD- Scripture Lesson Luke 3.21-4.13 Sermon Proven in the Wilderness Ronnie Curfman, Pastoral Intern 1 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God (1 Pet 3.18).
*Song of Response Worship of God with Tithes and Offerings *DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Words Thomas Ken, 1709; music Genevan Psalter, 1551; Public Domain
-OBSERVING THE SACRAMENT- The Lord s Supper We celebrate the Lord s Supper by coming forward (generally from the back of the sanctuary to the front, though you may commune at any time) and partaking of the bread and the cup. Wine is served in the inner ring of each tray; grape juice in the outer ring. We warmly invite to the Table all baptized Christians, who are living under the authority of Christ and his church. By eating the bread and drinking the cup, you are admitting that you are a sinner, without hope except in the sovereign mercy of God, and that you are trusting in Christ alone for salvation. *Song of Thanksgiving Hymn No. 679 TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS -GOING FORTH TO SERVE- *Benediction Numbers 6.24-26 Closing Prayer Lord, we plead with you to give us grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. *Please stand if able.
Our Nursery Helpers Worship Today: Nicole Miller Next Week: Jenni Early Gatherings Kids Quest is a catechism class for children, ages 5 through elementary grades, taught by Pastor Ron. It meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month (October through May), from 3:30 to 5:00 PM, at the church. The Martin Home Fellowship Group led by Eric Carpenter and Ronnie Curfman, meets at Kathy Martin s (213 Chapra St), the first and third Tuesdays of each month, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. They are studying the Gospel of Luke and all are welcome. The Men s Group resumes its study of Exodus this Wednesday, from 6:00 to 7:30 AM, at Pastor Ron s office. All men are invited. Prayer Meeting: We meet the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, at 5:15 PM in the chapel, to pray for one another, the kingdom, and our world. Please join us. Psalm Sing: Due to holiday travel, there will be no Psalm Sing tonight. It will resume next Sunday, December 2, at 6:30 PM, at the Schroeders (55 Buttonquail Ln). All ages and voices are welcome. The Women s Study resumes its study of Acts this Thursday, from 3:30 to 5:00 PM, at the church (childcare is provided). All are welcome.
Sermon Notes: Proven in the Wilderness (Luke 3.21-4.13) 1. Inauguration of the Son s Mission 2. Proving of the Son s Heart 3. Children of the Son
Prayer Concerns Rev. Andrew Allen: Pray the drugs Andrew is taking arrest the cancer, that he is granted strength to endure, and that he and Amy are kept in God s peace. Mike Givens: Pray for relief from the pain Mike is experiencing, and that God brings healing to his shoulder without the need for surgery. Oaks Parish: Pray for Rev. Bryan Buck, our church planter in southeast Portland, that God strengthens and uses him as he preaches the gospel in word and deed. Alister & Sarah Torrens (Ukraine): Pray for continued healing for Sarah s back, that God protects their marriage and family, uses Alister s ministry at the seminary to equip leaders for the church in Eastern Europe, and gives direction to their church planting efforts in Kiev. Announcements Birthdays and Anniversaries this Week: November 26 Ron and Cherry Gonzales November 27 Robert Fastenow November 27 Seth and Hannah Alden November 28 Henry Schroeder December 1 Kathleen Martin Christmas Choir: Matt and Kristina Halvorson are organizing an adult choir that will sing a couple Christmas hymns in our worship service on December 16. The choir will practice the next two Sundays, at 11:45 AM for about 45 minutes. All are welcome! Women s Fellowship Tea: All women are invited to a time of fellowship, food and fun, Saturday, December 1, from 10:00 AM to Noon, in the Coffee Hour room next to the sanctuary. We will be introducing the Women s Ministry Team that is putting this on. Come and get to know your sisters at Covenant Presbyterian better. Visitors: Welcome to Covenant! We are glad you are here and would love to have you join us, following the service, for some refreshments and a time of fellowship. Explanation of Cover Symbol Since the time of the Reformation, the burning bush has been a symbol of the Church. The Latin words are taken from Exodus 3.2 and read...and yet it was not consumed. In one of his letters, Samuel Rutherford reminded his correspondent, The bush has been burning these five thousand years, and no man yet saw the ashes of that fire.